A Matter of Survival
The North Korean Government’s Control of Food and the Risk of Hunger

I. Summary

II. Background

III. Past Problems of Famine and Hunger

Food Aid
Private Food Trade

IV. Current Food Conditions

V. The Impact of the Public Distribution System, the Ban on the Private Trade of Grain, and the Halting of Emergency Food Aid by WFP

The PDS
The Ban on the Private Trade of Grain
Limits on WFP and Other Food Providers

VI. North Korea’s Obligation Under International Human Rights Covenants

The Right to Food
Freedom of Movement

VII. Recommendations

To the North Korean government
To the South Korean government
To the Chinese government
To the International Community

Appendix

Amount of food rations under old ration system
North Korea’s grain production
Food aid to North Korea by the international community, including China and South Korea

May 2006   Volume 18, No. 3(C)